10 Most Expensive Transfers in Football History

It is a dream for every sports fan to see the best players perform. When such great players defend the team that is a sports fan’s favourite, there is nothing that can stop him from watching the games played by the team. That is why, the top clubs always want to rope in the best players from all over the world to be a part of their franchise, to ensure that the fans get what they want and stay loyal. The clubs in each league wait to get the top players, and for that, they are ready to do anything. Of course, the major incentive for the players when they play leagues, is the amount of money they are offered as contract fee. The football franchises are pretty generous in this regard, as they dole out huge sums of money to get the best players transferred from one team to their own. Let us take a look at the 10 Most Expensive Transfers in Football History.

10 Most Expensive Transfers in Football History

10. Edinson Cavani

10 Most Expensive Transfers in Soccer History

Uruguayan footballer Edinson Roberto Cavani Gómez is widely known as a “modern striker” and has participated in the FIFA World Cup twice for his nation. He was also an integral part of the Uruguayan team that won their record 15th Copa América title. Edinson Cavani joined French club Paris Saint-Germain in 2013 from Italian club Napoli with a jaw-dropping transfer fee of €64 million which is the tenth costliest transfer in our list of 10 Most Expensive Transfers in Football History. He scored 78 goals out of 104 appearances for Napoli between 2010 and 2013, and has also scored 24 goals in 49 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain till now since his joining in 2013. Edinson Cavani has scored 24 international goals in his 69 appearances till now for the Uruguayan national soccer team since 2008.

9. Kaká

10 Most Costliest Transfers of All Time

Brazilian attacking midfielder Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, famously known as Kaká, is currently associated with American club Orlando City in Major League Soccer. He was named FIFA World Player of the Year and rec eived the Ballon d’Or award in 2007. Kaká joined Spanish club Real Madrid in 2009 from Italian club AC Milan with an amazing transfer fee of €65 million which is the ninth costliest transfer in our list of 10 Most Expensive Transfers in Football History. He scored 7 goals out of 30 appearances for AC Milan between 2013 and 2014, and has also scored 2 goals in 19 appearances for São Paulo till now since his transfer on loan in 2014. Kaká has scored 29 international goals in his 89 appearances till now for the Brazilian national soccer team since 2002.

8. Zlatan Ibrahimović

10 Most Costliest Transfers in Football History

Swedish footballer Zlatan Ibrahimović is the all-time leading goalscorer of Sweden and represented his nations twice in 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups. His jaw-dropping bicycle-kick against England received the 2013 FIFA Puskás Award as the Goal of the Year. Zlatan Ibrahimović joined Spanish club Barcelona in 2009 from Italian club Inter Milan with an amazing transfer fee of €69 million which is the eighth costliest transfer in our list of 10 Most Expensive Transfers in Football History. He scored 28 goals out of 32 appearances for AC Milan between 2011 and 2012, and has also scored 73 goals in 87 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain till now since his joining in 2012. Zlatan Ibrahimović has scored 51 international goals in his 101 appearances till now for the Swedish national soccer team since 2001.

7. Zinedine Zidane

10 Most Costliest Transfers in Soccer History

Legendary retired French attacking midfielder Zinedine Yazid Zidane, nicknamed “Zizou”, is currently coaching the Real Madrid Castilla team after his retirement from professional football. He was voted as the “Best European Footballer of The Past 50 Years” in the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll. Zinedine Zidane joined Spanish club Real Madrid in 2001 from Italian club Juventus with a record transfer fee of €75 million which is the seventh costliest transfer in our list of 10 Most Expensive Transfers in Football History. He scored 24 goals out of 151 appearances for Juventus between 1996 and 2001, and has also scored 37 goals in 155 appearances for Real Madrid till his retirement in 2006 since his joining in 2001. Zinedine Zidane has scored 31 international goals in his 108 appearances till 2006 for the French national soccer team since 1994.

6. Ángel Di María

10 Most Costliest Transfers of Footballers

Argentine footballer Ángel Fabián Di María Hernández now plays as an attacking midfielder for Manchester United and the Argentina national team. He represented the Argentine team in two FIFA world cup and also in 2011 Copa América. Ángel Di María joined English club Manchester United in 2014 from Spanish club Real Madrid with a superior transfer fee of €75 million which is the sixth costliest transfer in our list of 10 Most Expensive Transfers in Football History. He scored 22 goals out of 124 appearances for Real Madrid between 2010 and 2014, and has also scored 3 goals in 21 appearances for Manchester United till now since his joining in 2014. Ángel Di María has scored 11 international goals in his 57 appearances till now for the Argentine national soccer team since 2008.

5. James Rodríguez

10 Most Expensive Transfers of All Time

Colombian footballer James David Rodríguez Rubio currently plays as an attacking midfielder for Real Madrid and Colombian national team. He is noted for receiving the Golden Boot in last 2014 FIFA World Cup as the top goal scorer of the tournament. James Rodríguez joined Spanish club Real Madrid in 2014 from French club AS Monaco FC with an amazing transfer fee of €79.5 million which is the fifth costliest transfer in our list of 10 Most Expensive Transfers in Football History. He scored 9 goals out of 34 appearances for AS Monaco FC between 2013 and 2014, and has also scored 8 goals in 20 appearances for Real Madrid till now since his joining in 2014. James Rodríguez has scored 12 international goals in his 32 appearances till now for the Colombian national soccer team since 2011.

4. Luis Suárez

10 Most Expensive Football Transfers

Uruguayan footballer Luis Alberto Suárez Díaz currently plays as a striker for FC Barcelona besides his appearances for the Uruguayan national team. He recently won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award in April 2014 and also named the FWA Footballer of the Year. Luis Suárez joined Spanish club Barcelona in 2014 from English club Liverpool with a jaw-dropping transfer fee of €94 million which is the fourth costliest transfer in our list of 10 Most Expensive Transfers in Football History. He scored 69 goals out of 110 appearances for Liverpool between 2011 and 2014, and has also scored 8 goals in 19 appearances for Barcelona till now since his joining in 2014. Luis Suárez has scored 43 international goals in his 82 appearances till now for the Uruguayan national soccer team since 2007.

3. Cristiano Ronaldo

10 Most Expensive Transfers of Soccer players

Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro currently plays as a forward of Real Madrid C.F. besides being the captain of the Portuguese national team. He won the Ballons d’Or three times and is only the second player to receive three European Golden Shoe Awards. Cristiano Ronaldo joined Spanish club Real Madrid in 2009 from English club Manchester United with a record transfer fee of €94.4 million which is the third costliest transfer in our list of 10 Most Expensive Transfers in Football History. He scored 84 goals out of 196 appearances for Manchester United between 2003 and 2009, and has also scored 208 goals in 190 appearances for Real Madrid till now since his joining in 2009. Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 52 international goals in his 118 appearances till now for the Portuguese national soccer team since 2003.

2. Neymar

10 Most Expensive Soccer Transfers

Brazilian footballer Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior currently plays as a forward for FC Barcelona besides being the captain of the Brazilian national team. He was described as “an excellent player” by Brazilian legend Pelé, and also noted that “he will be the best in the world” by Ronaldo and Messi. Neymar joined Spanish club Barcelona in 2013 from Brazilian club São Paulo with a record transfer fee of €95 million which is the second costliest transfer in our list of 10 Most Expensive Transfers in Football History. He scored 54 goals out of 103 appearances for São Paulo’s Santos FC between 2009 and 2013, and has also scored 26 goals in 50 appearances for Barcelona till now since his joining in 2013. Neymar has scored 43 international goals in his 61 appearances till now for the Brazilian national soccer team since 2010.

1. Gareth Bale

10 Most Expensive Transfers of Footballers

Welsh footballer Gareth Frank Bale currently plays as a winger for Real Madrid and the Wales national team. He is widely regarded as a soccer player with “tremendous speed, great crossing ability, a great left foot and exceptional physical qualities”. Gareth Bale joined Spanish club Real Madrid in 2013 from English club Tottenham Hotspur with a record transfer fee of €100 million which is the costliest transfer in our list of 10 Most Expensive Transfers in Football History. He scored 42 goals out of 146 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur between 2007 and 2013, and has also scored 27 goals in 52 appearances for Real Madrid till now since his joining in 2013. Gareth Bale has scored 14 international goals in his 48 appearances till now for the Wales national soccer team since 2006.

Every time a player joins a new club, it becomes a matter of huge discussion in the media and among the followers of the sport to find out or predict how much the player must have bagged to have made the decision of transferring from one team to the other. With football being a complete entertainment package, the players’ transfer fees become a subject of gossip, and it is also a part of the sport.